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152 "He could get a wife in Riverboro if he was a hundred and thirty," remarked Miss Miranda.

"Adam's aunt says he was so taken with the little girl that sold the soap (Clara Belle, did you say her name was?), that he declared he was going to bring her a Christmas present," continued Miss Ellen.

"Well, there 's no accountin' for tastes," exclaimed Miss Miranda. "Clara Belle 's got cross-eyes and red hair, but I 'd be the last one to grudge her a Christmas present; the more Adam Ladd gives to her the less the town 'll have to."

"Is n't there another Simpson girl?" asked Miss Lydia Burnham; "for this one could n't have been cross-eyed; I remember Mrs. Ladd saying Adam remarked about this child's handsome eyes. He said it was her eyes that made him buy the three hundred cakes. Mrs. Ladd has it stacked up in the shed chamber."

"Three hundred cakes!" ejaculated Miranda.

"Well, there 's one crop that never fails in Riverboro!"

"What 's that?" asked Miss Lydia politely.

"The fool crop," responded Miranda tersely, and changed the subject, much to Jane's gratitude, for she had been nervous and ill at ease for the last fifteen minutes. What child in Riverboro could be described as remarkable and winning, save Rebecca? What child had wonderful eyes, except the same Rebecca? and finally, was there ever a child in the